Calling all parents...a visit from Santa

I have a project that I am working on and wanted to come somewhere that hopefully few children go so I can talk to some parents.

Over the next month or so I am working on a story (and possible children's book) that will involve a one-on-one interview with Santa Claus.

I'm accepting questions from area children to ask the one question they would ask Santa given the opportunity. I'm hoping this can be used as a story for parents and children to read together to help their kids enjoy the magic of the Christmas season.

Last night I was in the truck with my youngest daughter and we had a talk about Santa. She told me one of her friends told her that Santa wasn't real and I told her that was just silly.

Children deserve to hang on to the magic and creativity that are part of childhood for as long as they can and I'm hoping this can be a tool for just that.

If it gives anyone even one more magical Christmas morning then it will have served its purpose.

Anyone whose children have a question or questions can either e-mail them to me at cnoles@dailystatesman.com or can mail/bring them by the office at 133 S. Walnut in Dexter. The fax number is 573-624-7449.

oh this is a cute one.Yeah i got two questions for santa .ONe is from my 9 year old michael.How does santa get in your house too bring you presents if you have no chimmny?number two comes from my 4 year old austin.why can't santa come everyday?

-- Posted by lynn1979 on Wed, Nov 28, 2007, at 2:23 PM

Corey Noles' response:

Thanks for the questions. Those are good ones.

So far, of all the ones I've received, my favorite is "Do you get chapped lips?"

Corey, I love your idea! I have three children of my own who are constantly asking questions about Santa. They would enjoy such a book.

Also, I would like to be the first to say that I believe in Santa Claus. I am 29 years old and believe more in Santa now than as a child. Santa may not be one individual, bright red suit, fluffy white beard, round red cheeks and small wire glasses. Santa may not have flying reindeer and live at the North Pole. But he does exist! The special magic in the air, the children's twinkling eyes, the love and random acts of kindness.

There is someone or something looking out for our children and for us during this special time of the year.

I know there is a Santa Claus because I have seen him. I have seen his work.

-- Posted by Lady on Wed, Nov 28, 2007, at 8:56 PM

I remember one year, our neighbor's older children were getting to that age that they no longer believed. The parents wanted to keep Santa alive so that the older ones wouldn't spoil it for the younger sibling. After the all the kids went to bed on Christmas Eve, the parents totally trashed the kitchen - threw flour all over and made hoof-prints in the flour (they had hoof slippers or something), they had reindeer tracks in the snow outside, so that it would look like Santa and his reindeer had been there. Those kids didn't know what to think on Christmas morning!

-- Posted by my2kids on Wed, Nov 28, 2007, at 10:35 PM

I'm a little curious as to what the reaction from some parents would be over what Australia is doing to Santa. I don't know if anyone has paid much attention or not, but it would appear that Australia has banned Santa from saying "Ho,Ho,Ho!" in favor of saying "HaHaHa!" My reaction on it is, if he starts screaming "HaHaHa!" at these kids, he's going to scare them half to death.

Yeah, I know I'm bringing politics into it, but considering the subject, it just roused my curiosity up.

-- Posted by tlmcrutch on Thu, Nov 29, 2007, at 11:27 AM

Ridiculous!

I remember the first year I learned about the "ho" thing. My sophomore class was doing "Julius Caesar," and there's this part where three of Brutus's guards have to sound an alarm, which (of course) goes like this: "Stand, Ho!" "Pass the word: Stand, Ho!"

My large 4th hour class (mostly boys) giggled and snickered, so when 5th hour rolled around (smaller class, mostly girls), I asked them what was going on, and they very gently enlightened me.

My, my! The world she is a'changin'!

In my era back in the 50's, we were snickering over the word "queer" in literature...

Kids! Gotta love 'em!

-- Posted by goat lady on Thu, Nov 29, 2007, at 4:58 PM

I am almost 40 years old with a family of my own and Santa still leaves me a gift at my mother's house. There will always be Santa.

-- Posted by aztecmomma on Wed, Dec 5, 2007, at 9:18 PM

Cory, that will be a great book. I know that your girls will be proud of it that their dad got to interview Sanata and wrote about it.

-- Posted by aztecmomma on Wed, Dec 5, 2007, at 9:19 PM

Sanata?

-- Posted by goat lady on Thu, Dec 6, 2007, at 9:05 PM

Since I doubt that Santa will stop by my house if you see him will you tell him that I want the NFL Network on my cable (Newwave) for Christmas.

-- Posted by I.B. Le Truth on Thu, Dec 6, 2007, at 9:39 PM

I.B.? What did you do??? Why isn't Santa stopping at your house? Must have been NAUGHTY??????

-- Posted by D.W.B. on Tue, Dec 11, 2007, at 8:51 AM

Hahahahaha!! D.W.B., how could you suggest such a thing about our dear, scholarly, logical I.B.LeTruth??

Something naughty! Now there's a thought!!

-- Posted by goat lady on Tue, Dec 11, 2007, at 5:41 PM

I am hoping for a much grander presence. He will be here I am sure. I think he is here right now reading this blog. Sometimes I think he smiles.

-- Posted by I.B. Le Truth on Tue, Dec 11, 2007, at 9:03 PM

Ah, I.B., you always have the soft answer. These blogs would be an empty place without you!

-- Posted by goat lady on Sat, Dec 15, 2007, at 8:25 PM

Well, nothing gets me too excited unless it is anything bad about the troops in any way. And of course, it grates my nerves when I hear I support the troops but not the war. A very Merry Christmas wish to all our volunteer forces.

Corey Noles, staff writer for The Daily Statesman and Editor of The North Stoddard Countian, is the author of a regular baseball/St. Louis Cardinals column and also uses his blog to sound off on various happenings in sports. He also operates a weekly baseball mailbag column.